Hoisting and dumping mechanism for containers



May 16, 1961 W. A. HERPICH ETAL HOISTING AND DUMPING MECHANISM FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY y l M1 ATTORNEKS` May 16, 1961 w. A. HERPICH ETAL 2,984,374

HOISTING AND DUMPING MCHANISM FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O HOISTING AND DUMPING MECHANISM FOR CONTAINERS William A. .Herpich and Neil F. Wender, Knoxville, Tenn., asslgnors to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Dec. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 782,227

7 Claims. (Cl. 214-302) This application is a continuation-impart of applicants prior application, Serial No. 662,252, tiled May 28, 1957, now Patent No. 2,900,096.

This invention relates to improvements in hoisting and dumping mechanism for containers, and more particularly, for use with separable containers that are adapted to be iilled on the ground and then lifted by the mechanism and dumped into a receptacle on the vehicle on which the mechanism is mounted.

It has been the practice heretofore to provide a body on a vehicle having an opening in the top thereof adapted to receive refuse, which may be compacted in the lbody until the latter is substantially filled. Where the hoist mechanism comprises a lifting frame, this may include a pair of lifting arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle and connected together at their free ends by a torque tube on which fork arms are mounted for detachable engagement with a container to lift the container to a dumping position. Power means is connected with the torque tube to rotate the latter for swinging the fork arms relative to the lifting frame or the arms thereof.

When the lifting arms are raised substantially to a` dumping position, if there should be a failure at this point of the power cylinders either at the pins, tie rods or pistons, or the hydraulic system, there is danger that the container could rotate under its load and force the fork arms downward to such an extent that there would be danger of the container becoming disconnected from the fork arms and dropping onto the cab of the truck or onto the ground, where injury may be occasioned to any of these parts or to the operator or attendants.

`One object of this invention is to minimize the possibility of such danger and to improve the construction of the `hoisting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety means, as a part of the hoisting mechanism, which will prevent accidental swinging of the fork arms to an abnormal position where these may be disengaged from the container when the latter is in an elevated position.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by the provision of safety stop means connected with the fork arms, so as to prevent undue movement of the latter in such relation as to allow lfor accidental releasev of the container therefrom. The safety stop means preferably comprises a stop bracket assembly connected with the fork lever and projecting into a position so as to allow freedom of swinging movement of the fork arms in one direction relative to the lifting arms, but to limit the movement of the fork arms in the opposite direction relative thereto. This safety stop bracket may be disposed in position for abutting engagement with a lifting arm upon movement of ther connected fork arm to an extreme position and thus prevent further movement in that direction while allowing for freedom of swinging movement in the opposite dine-i09- fice This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle with hoisting means thereon, to which the invention is applied;

Fig. 2 `is a side elevation of a portion of one of the lifting arms and its connected mechanism, with the fork arm moved to one extreme position relative thereto;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the fork arm moved to another extreme position relative thereto;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the safety stop assembly detached.

Referring to Fig. I, the invention'is shown as applied to a motor vehicle chassis, generally indicated by the numeral 1, including front and rear wheels 2 and 3 supporting the frame of the chassis. The vehicle is adapted to be power driven by any suitable power means as usually provided in truck operation. A cab is shown at 4, which may enclose the operator of the vehicle and frequently also includes an enclosure for the engine, although this is optional, according to the character of the vehicle to which the invention is applied.

Mounted on the vehicle chassis 1 is a body 5, such, for example, as a compaction-type body, having an opening or hopper 6 in the top thereof adjacent the front through which refuse may be directed into the body. If the body is constructed of the compaction type, as described above, the compaction head 7 may be mounted in the body for movement to a position forwardly of theiopening or hopper 6, in order to receive the refuse, and then propelled rearward of the body for compacting the refuse therein. A hydraulic cylinder 8 or other suitable power means may be used for moving the compaction head 7.

A suitable refuse container is indicated generally at 9 and preferably is separate from the hoisting mechanism on the vehicle. This container 9' should be somewhat elongated, with an opening in the top thereof for receiving and discharge of the refuse, which opening may beV closed by one or more doors 10 that will open when the refuse is to be discharged therefrom. At opposite ends, the container 9 is provided with elongated channels or pockets 11 that extend transversely of the respective end walls of the container, adapted for engagement for picking up and dumping the container.

The hoisting means for the container 9, in this embodiment of the invention, comprises fork arms 12 arranged for embracing relation with the container and for engagement in the pockets or channels 11. The fork arms 12 are secured upon a torque tube 13 that extends transversely from side to side of the vehicle andis hoisting frame which may be used for dumping the container 9.

At their opposite ends, the lifting arms 154 are pivotally supported at 164 on the chassis frame 1, for swinging picking up and movement to different positions with respect to the chassis frame and vehicle, generally as indicated` in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. l.

Y connected with the pivoted ends of the lifting arms 15 and are operatively connected with the main hydraulic cylinders 18, mounted-on the vehicle chassis 1 for swinging the lifting arms to different `positions forward and;

Through thisl means, the torque tube and lifting arms constitute a` Lever members 17 areV the opposite ends ofthe torque tube 13 have fork levers 19' fixed" on the torque tube for swinging the respective forks 12. The fork levers 19 are connected at 20 with one end of a hydraulicpower device, generally indicated at`21, the opposite endofwhich.powerdeviceZIis pivotally` mounted at,22vv uponthe adjacent lifting arm 151,

Itwill be noted from Fig. 4' that a pair of fork levers 19V are secured in spacedl relation at each endl of the torque tube .13 and that theadjacent piston rod"23 of the power cylinder- 21 extends between the lever19of the pair, being pivotedthereto at,2il. Thisrelation vequalizes the force of the cylinder actingthrough the levers 19 tov move the fork arms 12, but onlyone such power lever for each power device may be used, if preferred;l

The normal positions f the parts for picking up a container 9 are illustrated in full lines in Eig. 1. The` fork arms 124 are lowered' substantiallyv to theirhorizontal positions, to align with the pocketsor channelsill; onV the ends-,of the-container-9, and' the ,vehicle is moved forwardl untilengagement ofsthe fork armsg1-2 withthe pockets orV channelsl isv effected. Then, the power cylinders 21 are operated to lift the fork'arms 12jthrougharelatively small angle, suicient tos lift the container 9 off the4 ground; As zin-alternate operation, thehydrauliclpower devices 18 may be operated to raise the freeends ofthe lifting arms until the container is lifted olf the ground.

With the containerrthus elevatedto the desired ex-tent, the vehicle may be moved, if desired, or the dumping operation effected without movement o-f the vehicle. If thevehicle is not to be moved, the lifting` arms 15 can be manipulated by the power cylinders 181 to raise the -container 9 to a dumping position, substantially a'sindicated in the upper right-hand view` by dotted lines in Fig. 1, which is'here indicated at A. In such position, the-container is turned upside down for'discharging the contents therefrom through the opening or hopper 6* into thebody 5.

In the course of this operation, if ay failure of'tl'lev mechanism should result at any time before the container reaches an inverted position as, for example, up to and includingv the position indicated at B, there is danger of injury or damage. If there should be a cylinder failure at this point, either at the pins, tie rods or pistons, orV a hydraulic failure, the container could rotate under its load and dip on the forks 12 to the position indicated at C'where it may become disengaged from the forks and' drop onto the cab 4 of the vehicle, causing damage to' the latter, or to the ground where damage may result toother parts of the vehicle or injury'toworkmen', opera? tors, etc. This invention has provision for' preventing such possibility of injury or damage shoulda failurevofl any kind occur in the mechanism.

According to the embodiment ofthe invention i1lus. trated in the drawings, a safety stop assembly is' -provided including a base plate 24 and a stop block 25,' which is elongated and has an offset end portion 26 inposition to conform to the periphery of the base plate 24-V and to provide a secure connection with the latter.

The base platet24 is shown in Fig. 4 asconformingto the outside radius of the adjacent end of the fork leversy 19, overlapping the latter transversely and preferably welded or otherwise secured thereto. The stopv block'ZSf" is in turn Weldedv or otherwise rigidly fixed to the`;ba se, plate 24 and thereby will be xed'rigidly tothe `levers 19,V

With the fork arms 12 in their lowered orsubstantially'y horizontal positions, which is illustrated relatively in Fig. 3,y thestop block 25 projects in underlying relation'with theV adjacentend portion with the lifting arm? 1,5.

A contact pad 27 is shownas weldedor otherwise" secured rigidlyv on the adjacentarm 15 inposition for abutting engagement by. the end portion ofthe stop, block 25 to limit the swingingmovement of the latter during rotation of the torque tube 13.. If preferred,. the pad 27iy may be secured directly on thevfree end of the ,stopI block' 25 and abut against the faceof the armlS or against. a pad'provided thereon;

assenze Y of the levers 19.

Since the position of the fork arm 12 will vary in its relation to the main arm 15, and' likewise of the fork levers 19 relative thereto, according to the eye-to-eye adjustment of the hydraulic cylinder 21, the safety stop assembly should not be welded to the levers 19 until nal assembly of the hoisting mechanism. This will insure of proper uniform operation. Then, when the parts are being, assembled, the cylinder: 21v isl extended to aV point where the maximum dip is provided of the fork levers 19. With those partsinsuch position, the stop assemblyvcan beapplied to` thepivot end'of the levers19 and thev base plate 24 of` the stop assembly welded tothe largeends In such position, the stop block 25 should be spacedl from the contact surface on the arm 15 as, for example, by the space shown in Fig. 3, between the face of the stop block 25 and the face of the adjacent pad 27. Thus, these parts will contact only when the forks 12 areunder strainY and. have been, moved. to.l abnormal positions.

With this safety stop mechanism, itisl apparentfthat; should a failure o ccur at.the-positionillustrated. atpL in Fig. 1,0ff any parts of the mechanism, suchY asvthecylinzdertshydraulics, mechanisms, etc., and there be. a tend:- ency for the container 9 to swingV the forks 12 downward: to, the position showny atV C, suchA downward Swinging, movement would be prevented by theengagementofthe. stop block 25 withthe pad 27 before the containerV could belowered to a point where it might accidentally become. disengaged from the forkarms 12., Thus,,thefrnechanism` wouldassure thatthere would be` no serious danger-ofL disconnection or, ofn dropping the container, fromtitseleif vated position.

VWhile the invention hasbeen illustrated'andtdeseribedlV in oneV embodiment, it is recognized thatuvariations and changes may be made therein, withoutdeparting,frorrLthe invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim;

l. Inhoisting mechanism of the characterfdescribed the combination with a vehicle including Van., operatorfs, cab, ofda lifting framel mounted` onV thetvehicle andhavingu fork arms, adaptedY for detachable engagemcntywith:l a,l container andV privotallymounted onv the,V liftingl frame. fol-,movementto positions over the cab, and. meansfor., swingingtle fork,arms Vrelative to the lifting` frame., of.l safety stop. means operatively .connected with the1forlt-i armsA for movement ofthe latter in one directionrelative tothe liftingl frame and for limiting swingingmovement. of theforkarmsinthe opposite direction relative thereto. when said'jfork arms., are in positions over thecah topperY vent' accidental` disengagement 0fV thev container.

2.,In,h,oisting mechanism of .the charactendescribedl.- the combination with a vehicle including. anooprerators,v

cab, of a lifting framemounted on the vehicleand,havl

' for swingingthefork arms relative tothe lifting, frame,

of"a sa f ety stop assemblyl comprisingmeans. fixed.; telar, tiyeto the fork arms for movement therewithiand ex nds. ing into the positions for engagement, with thelifting, frame, when, said fork ,arms arein positions overthe-cab.l tolimit the swinging movement of thefork armsfrelatiyegto the, lifting frame in one direction. v

Y 32 Inhoisting mechanism of the character described,

the, combination withV a vehicle includingA an operators: cab, of a liftingrframe mountedion the vehicleandi infl c luding fork arms pivotally4 mounted on the lifting frame; in positions for detachable engagement with a containerA to lift the container to an elevated'position for dumping,V and power means connected with the fork arms, for swing;l ingthe latter relative to thelifting frame, orfa-Qsafety stop mechanism including a stop member fixed 'relativeto the fork arms and` extending into position for abuttingV relation with the lifting frame upon swinging movement of* the fork arms in one direction relative thereto when said fork arms are in positions over the cab.

4. In hoisting mechanism of the character described, the combination with a lifting frame including lifting arms adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle for upward swinging movement relative thereto, a torque tube connecting together the free ends of the lifting arms, fork arms mounted on the torque tube, fork levers mounted on the torque tube for swinging movement relative to the lifting arms and Xed to the fork arms, power devices operatively connected with the forli levers for moving the latter to swing the fork arms relative to the lifting arms, of safety stop means fixed relative to the fork arms in positions for abutting relation against the lifting arms to limit the swinging movement of the fork arms in one direction relative thereto.

5. In hoisting mechanism of the character described, the combination with a lifting frame including lifting arms adapted to be mounted on a motor vehicle for upward swinging movement relative thereto, a torque tube connecting together the free ends of the lifting arms, fork arms mounted on the torque tube, fork levers mounted on the torque tube for swinging movement relative to the lifting arms and fixed to the fork arms, power devices operatively connected with the fork levers for moving the latter to swing the fork arms relative to the lifting arms, of safety stop means fixed relative to 4the fork arms in positions for abutting relation against the lifting arms to limit the swinging movement of the fork arms in one direction relative thereto, said safety stop means comprising base plates fixed to the fork levers, a stop block xed to each base plate and extending into overlapping relation with the adjacent portion of the lifting arm in position for abutment thereagainst upon swinging movement of the fork arms to abnormal positions relative thereto.

6. In hoisting mechanism of the character described, the combination with a vehicle including an operators cab and a body, of a lifting frame mounted on the vehicle and having fork arms mounted thereon for swinging movement relative to the lifting frame and adapted for detachable engagement with a separable container, means for moving the lifting frame to raise the container on the fork arms respectively to positions over the cab and over the body, and means operatively connected with the fork arms and lifting frame for limiting the downward swinging movement of the fork arms relative to the lifting frame when the container is in a supported position on the arms `over the cab.

7. In hoisting mechanism of `the character described, the combination wit-lh a vehicle including an operators cab and a body, of a lifting frame mounted on the vehicle and having fork arms mounted thereon for swinging movement relative to the lifting frame and adapted for detachable engagement with a separable container, means for moving the lifting frame to raise the container on the fork arms respectively to positions over the cab and over the body, and means operatively connected with the fork arms and lifting frame for limiting the downward swinging movement of the fork arms relative to the lifting frame in a direction only toward the cab while allowing freedom of swinging movement of the fork arms in a direction .toward the body to dump the contents of the container therein.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

